Doing Business with the Czech Republic

The Consulate of the Czech Republic in Malta has as one of its main missions to promote business relations between the Czech Republic and Malta. Various activities in this respect have been successfully organized in recent months with the aim to get to know more the market and also to introduce Czech partners to Maltese ones.

The main Czech Organization responsible in promoting such business is CzechTrade.

CzechTrade (Czech Trade Promotion Agency) is a government institution of the Czech Ministry of Industry and Trade. The agency was established in 1996 and its main objective is to promote and assist in the development of mutual trade and industrial co-operation between the Czech Republic and other countries.

"Czech Business Links (CBL)" is a new information service provided by CzechTrade. CBL database contains important Czech or Czech related web source with an English content. Annotated links are sorted into many chapters (e.g. Fairs and exhibitions, conferences, services; Finance; Firms; Legal information; News; Practical Information; Region Sites; Statistics; Trade, Investment and Business Promotion), related to business and trade in the Czech Republic.

Our service will provide a useful orientation on the Czech Republic.

With the assistance of Czech Trade, The Czech Confederation of Industries, The Embassies of the Czech Republic in Tripoli, Libya and Tunis, Tunisia, the Consulate of the Czech Republic in Malta is also promoting Malta as the bridge between the Czech Republic and North Africa. The concept is to use Maltese partners in facilitating business connections with North African Countries. Mr Tonio Casapinta, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic in Malta, has recently addressed a conference "Czech Republic Partner to Mediterranean Countries" in Jesenice Prague on this subject, when he read a paper entitled "Malta a bridge between Europe and North Africa - a way to do business in the region" - (full text in News page on this site)

CZECHTRADE Office opened in Malta.

The Malta Chamber of Commerce was the right choice as the venue for the inauguration of the External Branch of Milan CzechTrade office in Malta and the appointment of Tonio Casapinta, Honorary Consul of the Czech Republic in Malta as it's Head. This was stated by His Excellency Prof. Guido de Marco, President of Malta was the guest of honour at the inauguration.

Prof de Marco explained that such initiatives by two applicant EU Countries are to be applauded as these draw people together, evaluate similarities and explore possibilities for business co-operation. Malta has constantly given testimony of this commitment both in bilateral and multilateral contexts.

Her Excellency Hana Sevcikova, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Malta explained that the decision to open this external branch of CzechTrade was possible considering the business potential now available due to the two Country's mutual aspirations, that of joining the European Uniton. Malta will thus be drawing closer the parameters of Europe to the Mediterranean region.

In fact, after having consolidated the Consulate during these last years, now was the time to have a commercial representation with Mr. Casapinta as it's Head in Malta.

CzechTrade is the Czech Government official trade promotion agency offering full possibilities to Czech exporters to find partners and do business in the region. Malta has for years been a traditional Czech business partner and through these efforts it is hoped that the range of Czech products on the Maltese market will increase.

Following the handing over of the CzechTrade Letter of Appointment by H.E. Hana Sevcikova, Mr Casapinta explained that it was not only the Maltese market which was of interest to Czech Republic. The North African market was now offering great potential and the only way to address this reality was to bridge the gap between the Czech Republic and North Africa, through Malta, with the use of Maltese businessmen as representatives of Czech Companies in the region with Malta as a base for these operations. This would also be most beneficial to the Maltese economy.

Czech protectionist trading policies and inward - looking mentality would inevitably have to change in response to emerging international trade regulations which no longer permitted countries to protect their indigenous products in their domestic markets. Czech firms had to become truly competitive, building on their undoubted strengths in order to exploit the opportunities that such changing horizons presented: that of penetrating new lucrative markets.

In this context, tapping the Mediterranean region and above all, North Africa, presented a tremendous business opportunity to whoever wished to venture into new fertile territory.

Malta, Mr Casapinta stated, was particularly suited as a regional business center for European companies targeting the wider Mediterranean area, North Africa and the Middle East.

In this case our Consulate will be playing a dual role, - that of promoting Czech products to the local market and bringing Czech and Maltese businessmen together and do business in the region.

We are sure, concluded Mr Casapinta, that this is a golden opportunity, which will make globalisation work for us rather than against us. Various Government Minister including The Hon. Dr & Mrs Joe Borg, The Hon. Mr John Dalli and The Hon. Dr & Mrs Michael Refalo, President Emeritus Dr & Mrs Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, various Members of the Diplomatic Corps , Businessmen and members of the Maltese - Czech Society attended the event.

Malta's External Branch of Czech Trade Milano, Italy is open for business.

We can offer assistance in importing products from the Czech Republic to Malta and/or co-operating and match working with Czech partners. Objectives of the External Czech Trade Branch are:

Increase the availability of quality Czech products on the Maltese market.

Explore the possibility of investment between Czech and Maltese extrapreneurs. With the possibility of merging Maltese capital with Czech knowhow and technology.

Use Malta as a bridge between the Czech Republic and North Africa considering Malta's potential as a key player in the Euro-Med business arena.